Cooking device



July-28, 1942- H. w. UHLRIG ETAL COOKING DEVICE Origigal Filed Jan. 25,1939 2 Sheets$heet l Inventors Harrg W. Uhlr-i David W. Gusbaveson,

Thevr- Attor-neg- July 28, 1942. w, UHLRIG r 2,291,359

COOKING DEVICE Original Filed Jan. 26, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors:Ham-1 g W.Uhh'-i g,

David W. Gustaveson,

Their- Attorneg.

Patented July 28,

2,291,359 oooxmo DEVICE Barry W. Uhlrig, Stratford, and David W.Gustaveson, Bridgeport, Conn, assignors to General Electric Company, acorporation of New York Original application January 26, 1939, SerialNo.

252,952. Divided and this application December 16, 1939, Serial No.309,630

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a broiler-griddle at-,

tachment for an electric roaster and, more specifically to a reflectorand heating unit assembly for such an attachment.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No.252,952, filed January 26, 1939, andassigned to the assignee of thisapplication.

It is an object of this invention to provide an attachment of theaforementioned type with a new and improved heating unit assemblywhichcan be removably mounted so that the attachment may be readily andeasily cleaned.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide such anattachment with a frame, having a reflecting surface and a cookingsurface, and a heating unit assembly having simple and readily actuatedmeans for detachably mounting the heating unit in the frame so that theunit may be removed to facilitate cleaning of the surfaces.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a new and improvedheating unit assembly and an arrangement for detachably mounting thesame to the surface with which it is used.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a heating unitassembly with simple and inexpensive means for preventingshort-circuiting of the electrical terminals thereon when the.

assembly is mounted in position in the attachment-and is connected to asource of electrical energy.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe following description proceeds and the features of novelty whichcharacterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity inthe claims appended to and forming a part of the specification.

For a more complete understanding oi this invention reference should behad to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 represents afragmentary elevation partly in section of an electric roaster havingthe broiler and griddle attachment of this invention in its operativeposition; Fig. 2 represents a plan view, partly in section', of thearrangement shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3

is an end view of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is adetailed view of the hinge construction showing the position of thebroiler when rotated to its full open position; Fig. 5 is a detailedview, partly in section, of the means for vertically adjusting thebroiling unit, the latter being moved the maximum distance above thebroiling pan; Fig. 6 is a detailed view of the hinge construction andadjusting means taken on the 9 line 5-6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a partialplan view of the removable heating unit; Fig. 8 is an elevation, partlyin section, ofthe heating unit shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9 is a detailedview of a portion of one end wall of the broiling unit showing the meansfor locking the heating unit in position.

Referring to Figs. land 2, this invention is shown as applied to anelectric roaster having outer walls to and inner Walls it which define aroasting well id in which is located a suitable rack it upon which arearranged cooking utensils M. A suitable insulating material l5, such-asrock wool, is located between the inner and outer walls of the roaster.It will be understood that heating elements (not shown) are arrangedbetween the inner and outer walls adjacent the side and bottom walls ofthe roaster well and embedded in the insulating material IS. The outerand inner walls of the roasting unit are adapted to overlap and form acircumferential joint 16 at the top of the roaster well and amarginalflange I! is provided in the inner wall it adjacent thecircumferential joint. In some roaster constructions it is customary touse a removable well within the roaster well.- In those instances wheresuch a construction is employed, it is to be understood that themarginal flange will be provided adjacent the top .portion of theremovable well.

Supported on the marginal flange i1 is an inverted pan l8 havingvertical extending side walls 19 and a dished upper surface 20. Attachedto the walls 99 are suitable handles Hla. Located in the center of theupper surface is an opening 21 and the surface is sufiiciently dished sothat it has a substantial slope toward the opening 2| except at the edge22 adjacent the side walls l9. Arranged in the dished upper surface is arack 23 upon which is placed the food to be broiled. It will be observedthat, due to the sloping of the surface 20, the rack is spaced therefromexcept at its edges. The'surface 20 is highly polished and is adapted toreflect heat radiated thereto.

The entire structure just described constitutes a broiling pan forsupporting the food to be broiled. It will be observed that the pan isof such construction and is supported in such a drain for any greasewhich drips from the food being broiled. The grease will run down thissloping surface and drain through the opening 21. A drip pan 24 islocated in the master well to catch the grease drained through opening2i.

It will be observed that the pan 24 is provided with circumferentiallyspaced bosses 23 which make it possible to support the drip pan withinthe top of one of the cooking utensils l4 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and3.

Located adjacent the broiling pan I3 is a frame or reflector 23 havingend walls 21 and 21a and a top wall 23 firmly secured thereto by meansof rivets 23. The top wall 23 is pressed from a flat sheet of suitablematerial, such as aluminum, and includes side walls 33 and 3| whichslope downwardly and outwardly from the remaining flat portion of thetop wall. The under surface 32 of the top wall is provided with asuitable surface which will reflect heat radiated thereto and thesloping portions 33 and 3| tend to concentrate.the heat on the broilingpan l3. Pressed into the flat surface of the top wall 23 is a dishedportion 33, the surface of which is arranged to slope slightly towardthe center at which an opening 34 is located. This surface 33 is adaptedto serve as a griddle surface as will more fully appear hereinafter.

Removably mounted in the reflector 23 is a heating unit assembly 33which is a unitary structure comprising a support having a pair oflongitudinally extending bars 33 which are arranged and maintained insubstantially parallel relation by a transversely extending bar 31(Fig. 1) attached to the bars adjacent one end, and an L-shaped plate 33attached to the bars of the other end. Arranged intermediate the bar 31and'th'e plate 33 are a plurality of bars 33 extending transversely ofthe longitudinal bars 33 and having ends 43 which extend beyond thesebars. The bar 31, the plate 33 and the bars 33 are soldered, welded orotherwise suitably secured to the longitudinal bars 33. Mounted in eachof the ends 43 is an insulator 4| which is provided with a centrallyarranged opening Ma and a circumferential groove 42. In mounting theinsulators 4! in the ends 43 of the transverse supporting rods 33 asubstantially U-shaped loop is formed in the ends and th'einsulator isset intothis loop so that the rod 33 extends into the groove 42provided'in the insulator. The upper portion of the' U-shaped loop isthen bent downwardly so as to form a substantially closed loop about theinsulator as shown in Fig. 3.

A pair of contact prongs 43 extends through and is flrmly attached toone wall of the L-shaped plate 33. The prongs 43 are insulated from thewall of the plate 33 by means of washers 43a of suitable insulatingmaterial. A suitably coiled res stance wire 44 is threaded through theopening 4m in insulators 4i and is connected at its ends to theterminals-43 provided at the ends of the pair of prongs 43. Theresistance wire 44 may be of any suitable material capable of generatingand withstanding the operating temperatures of the broiling unit.

' Provided in the L-shaped plate 33 of the heating unit assembly 35 is alatch receiving opening 43 through which extends a resilient latchingmember or clip 41 which is firmly attached at one end by means of arivet 43 to the horizontally extending portion of the L-shaped plate 33.Provided in the clip 41 is a detent 41a (Flgs.1 and 8) the purpose ofwhich will more fully appear hereinafter. It will be observed that theresilient clip 41 extends substantially parallel to the contact prongs43 but is spaced above the prongs as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. With suchan arrangement, short circuiting of the heating unit by accidentallydroppin a kitchen utensil, such as a knife or a fork, on the contactprongs is prevented in a case where an electrical attachment plug doesnot completely cover the contact prongs 43 or is pushed only part wayon.

Provided in one end wall 210 of the frame or reflector 23 adjacent thetop edge thereof is a pair of support receiving openings 43 (Fig. 3)adapted to receive the ends of the longitudinally extending bars 33.Provided in the opposite end wall 21 of the frame 23 is a similarlylocated pair of support receiving openings 33 (Figs. 3, '1 and 9)adapted to receive the opposite ends of the longitudinally extendingbars 33. Also provided in the same end wall 21 is an opening 3| throughwhich is adapted to extend the contact prongs 43. The opening 3| isprovided with a recess 32 adapted to receive the resilient clip 41. Bymeans of the cooperation between the resilient clip 41 and the recess32, the heating unit assembly is firmly locked in position. In insertingthe heating unit in the frame or reflector 23, the ends of the rods 33adjacent the bar 31 are inserted in the openings 43 and the heating unitis moved to the left a distance suflicient to permit the contact prongs43 to clear the side wall 21. The unit is then moved upwardly until theprongs are opposite the opening 3|. It is then moved to the right untilthe end of the resilient clip 41 engages the recess 5:. which is of suchdepth that the 'engagement of the clip 41 therewith automatically alignsth'e right-hand'end of the bars 33 with the open ings 33 therebyfacilitating the insertion of the bars into these openings. Upon furthermovement to the right, the clip 41 rides on the portion of the end wall21 until the detent 41a snaps over the end wall and flrmly locks theheating unit assembly in position, the vertically extending wall of theplate 33 abutting the inner side of the end wall 21 whereby-slidingmovement of the h'eating unit in either direction is precluded.

The heating unit assembly and the reflector constitute the broilingunit. with such a broiling unit, it is desirable to have it readlyremovable from the roaster when it is no longer needed and yet hinged tothe roaster when in use. Furthermore, it is desirable to have such abroiling unit adjustable to accommodate different types of food and tocontrol the transmission of heat thereto. Turning to the structure foraccomplishing these ends in accordance with this invention, it will beobserved that a pair of hinge brackets 33 is mounted on the outside wallll of the roaster. These hinge brackets are flrmly held in position bymeans of rivets 34 which are adapted to extend through a reenforcingplate 33 extending along the inside of the wall 13 adjacent the point ofattachment of the hinge bracket 33. Each hinge bracket is provided atone end with a slotted portion 33 which is used in hinging theroastercover (not shown) to the master during roasting operations. Provided inthe end of each hinge bracket remote from the slot 33 is a stud 31extending outwardly from the sides thereof. A hinge plate 33 ofsubstantlally'channel shape having a pair of side walls 33 and 33between which extends a wall 31 is adapted to be movably mounted on thestuds 31. In order to effect thismounting a recess or a slot 32 is cutinto each of the side walls 33 and 33 adjacent the lower end thereof.The studs 31 are adapted to beinserted in the slots 62 thereby forming arotatable or hinged mounting between the hinge plate 58 and the outsidewall III of the roaster. Provided in the wall 6! of the hinge platealong the longitudinal center thereof and extending substantiallythroughout the length of bhiS wall is a slot 63, the purpose of whichwill be described presently.

Mounted on the side wall 30 of the top wall 28 of the reflector 26 is asubstantially L-shaped bracket 64 which is firmly fixed to the wall 3Qby means of rivets 65. The bracket 64 is provided with a verticallyextending portion of substantial length and of such width that it can beinserted between the side walls 59 and 60 of the channel shaped hingeplate 58. Provided in this vertically extending portion of the bracket64 is a pair of studs 66 which are adapted to be inserted in the slot 63provided in the hinge plate. It is apparent that with suchan arrangementthe frame 26 and the heating unit assembly mounted therein can be movedrelative to the hinge plate and hence vertically adjusted with respectto the top of the roaster well and the broiling pan l8 supportedthereon. The bracket '64 is also provided with a threaded opening illinto which is screwed a thumb screw 88 which is provided with a washer69 adapted to clamp or look the bracket 64 and the associated broiler lrelation with respect to each other. In order to prevent completedisengagement of the thumb screw with the bracket 64 the end of thethumb screw is peened over thereby making it impos-,

sible to remove it from the threaded portion 61.

As already pointed out, the broiler unit by means of the hinge plate andits pivotal connection to the hinge bracket 53 is adapted to be rotatedwith respect to the roaster. This means that the-broiler unit can beswung from a horizontal position, such as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, toa substantially vertical position, as shown in Fig. 4. In order tofacilitate this swinging movement, a handle 10 (Figs. 2 and 3) isprovided in suitable openings II provided on the side wall 3|. Thehandle 10 is made of some are vertically adjusted with respect to thebroilsuitable resilient material and is adapted to be inserted into theopenings H and then spring into position so that it extendssubstantially perpendicularly to the inclined wall 3| at all timesthereby preventing it from becoming undulv heated during the broilingoperation. Integral with the hinge plate is a flange I2 which extendssubstantially perpendicular to the wall 6| of the hinge plate. Thisflange 12 serves as a stop to limit the counterclockwise rotation of thebroiling unit, When the flange 12 engages the outside wall to of theroaster, the broiler unit is in a substantially vertical position asshown in Fig, 4. The clockwise rotation of the hinge plate and broilingunit is limited by the engagement of the walls 59 and 60 of the channelshaped hinge plate with. a wall it of the roaster. When these side wallsengage the roaster wall, the broiling unit is substantially horizontalas shown in Fi 3.

As previously pointed out, openings 2i and 34 are provided in thegriddle surface 33 and the surface 26 of the broiling pan respectivelyand the respective surfaces slope toward the openings. During theoperation of the attachment as either a broiler or a griddle surplusrack, the frame and broiling unit may be rotatginal flange l'lprovidedat the top of the roaster well. The frame 26 and its associated heatingunits are then mounted on the roaster by insorting the studs 57 in theslots at provided in the side walls 59 and til of the hinge plate 58.During this operation, the frame and hinge plate are in the positionshown in Fig. 4. The food to be broiled is then placed on the rack 23and the frame and heating unit are rotated to the position shown inFigs. 1 and 3. Depending upon the food to be broiled and the manner inwhich it is to be broiled, the frame and heating unit ing pan by slidingthe studs 66 in the slot 63 are locked in the adjusting position bymeans of the thumb screw 58. During the broiling oi the food, it isunnecessary to disturb the adjustment of the frame and heating unitunless it is desired to alter the manner in which the food is beingbroiled. If it is desired to inspect or turn the food resting on thebroiling pan ed about the studs 51 in the manner indicated.

When the food has been placed in position and the frame adjusted to asuitable height, the contact prongs are inserted in a suitable plugconnection to a source of power. The spring clip 41 is so spaced withrespect to the contact prongs 43 that the insertion of the prongs in asuitable plug member prevents a downward unlatching movement of saidclip thereby positively locking the heating unit in posi'ion making itimpossible to remove the heating unit so long as the plug is inengagement withthe contact prongs. With a source of energy connected tothe contact prongs the heating unit 35 is energized and heat istransmitted tothe food supported on the broiler pan rack by directradiation from the heating unit and also by reflection from the undersurface of the top wall of the frame 26. In this manner the energyavailable for cooking is readily and efficiently transmittedto thematerial to be cooked. As previously exlplained, any grease which isproduced during the broiling operation runs down the sloping surface ofthe broiling pan and through the opening 2i into the drip pan i i. Inthis way, the grease is quickly drained from the heated surface of thebroiling pan and the undesirable smoking and burning of this grease issubstantially eliminated.

When the attachment is to be used as a griddle, the drip pan andbroiling pan are again arranged in the position shown, and the frame 26is mounted on the roaster as shown in Fig. 3. With the heating unitconnected to a source of energy in the manner described in connectionwith the description of the broiling operation, the unit ,is energizedand heat is transmitted to the griddle surface Bil by direct radiationfrom the heating element and also by reflection from the surface 2% ofthe broiling pan it. It is to be observed that the heating element ismounted adjacent the griddle surface thereby insuring that this surfacewill become sufilciently hot to suitably cook the food placed on thesurface 33.

After the attachment has been used either as a broiler or as a griddle,the surfaces thereof may be readily cleaned by removing the frame fromthe roaster and then detaching the heating unit assembly from the frame.To detach the heating unit, it is only necessary to press downwardly onthe spring clip 41 so that the detent "a no longer engages the side wall21 of the frame.

The unit is then moved to the left until the ends of the contact prong43 clear the'end wall 21 construction which can be easily and conven--iently operated without disturbing the contents of the master well.While this invention has been described in detail in connection with oneform thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited tothis form and it is intended in the appended claims to cover allmodifications thereof within the true spirit and scope of thisinvention.

,What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

1. In an electric cooking unit, a frame comprising a pair of end walls,each of-sai'd end walls having a plurality of support receiving openingstherein, one of said endwalls including in addition a terminalreceivingopening; a. removable electrical heating unit comprising a heatingelement and a support therefor, said support comprising longitudinallyextending bars laterally spaced from each other, the ends of which areadapted to be inserted in said support receiving openings by a relativemovement of said frame and said support, a plate mounted on said barsadjacent the ends which are supported by said end wall having theterminal receiving opening, a pair of terminal prongs to which the endsof said heating element are electrically connected mounted on said plateand adapted to extend through said terminal receiving opening, and aresilient clip mounted on said plate and adapted to engage an edge ofsaid terminal receiving opening to detachably latch said support in itsoperative position relative to said frame, said clip having a portionextending beyond said edge above said terminal prongs so as to preventaccidental short clrcuiting of said prongs.

2. In an electric cooking unit, a frame comprising a top wall having areflective surface on the under side thereof and a pair of end walls,each of said end walls having a pair of laterally spaced openingstherein and one of said end walls having an elongated opening therein,an electric heating unit comprising a pair of longitudinally extendingbarslaterally spaced from each other and of sufllcientlength so that theends thereof may be inserted through said pairs of laterally spacedopenings to support said heating unit in its operative position, acoiled heating element, means for supporting said coiled heating elementon said bars so that said heating element is symmetrically spacedrelative to said reflecting surface, an L-shaped plate member mounted onone end of said longitudinal bars, terminal means mounted on saidL-shaped memberso as to project through'said elongated opening when saidheating unit is mounted in its operative position, and a resilient latchmounted on said L-shaped plate and adapted to extend through saidelongated opening and engage the adjacent end wall of said frame so asto releasabiy latch said heating unit in its operative position, saidresilient latch being mounted on said plate above said terminal means sothat the projecting end thereof overlies said terminal means to preventaccidental short-circuiting thereof when said cooking device is in use.

3. In an electric cooking unit, a frame comprising a pair of end walls,each of said end walls having a plurality of support receiving openingstherein, one of said end walls including in addition a terminalreceiving opening, a removable electrical heating unit comprising aheating element and -a support therefor, said support comprisinglongitudinally extending bars laterally spaced from each other, the endsof which are adapted to be inserted in said support receiving openingsby a relative movement of said frame and said support, a plate mountedon said bars adjacent the ends which are supported by said end wallhaving the terminal receiving opening, a pair of terminals, to which theends of said heating element are electrically connected, mounted on saidplate and adapted to extend through said terminal receiving opening toreceive a detachable electrical attachment plug, and a resilient clipmounted on said plate and adapted to en age an edge of said terminalreceiving opening to detachably latch said support in its operativeposition relative to said frame, said clip having a portion adapted tocooperate with said plug and prevent movement of said clip to anunlatched position when said plug is received on said terminals.

4. In an electric cooking device, a frame member having an openingtherein, an electric heating unit comprising a heating element and asupport therefor, means for removably mounting said unit on said framemember. a resilient latch clip mounted on said support and adapted toextend through and engage the edge of said opening to detachably latchsaid heating unit in its operative position on said frame, and terminalprongs for said heating element adapted to receive an electricalattachment plug, said prongs being mounted on said support in spacedrelation to said clip so that movement of said clip in a direction tounlatch said heating unit from said frame is precluded by engagement ofsaid clip with said plug when said plug is connected to said prongswhereby said heating unit must be electrically disconnected by removalof said plug from said prongs before said clip can be actuated tounlatch said unit from said frame.

HARRY W. UHLRIG. DAVID W. GUSTAVESON.

